It's urgent: The deadline for an application for the Alpine World Ski Championships 2027 ends on May 1st. In Garmisch-Partenkirchen, however, the municipal council has not yet decided whether the location is available for a second candidacy.
It is also not certain that Peter Fischer will march ahead as an experienced World Cup maker.
Garmisch-Partenkirchen -
Not a day passed.
Crans-Montana was already ready.
A press release went out on October 3, when the Swiss ski resort failed to bid for the Alpine World Ski Championships in 2025.
The logo had already been adapted: Crans-Montana 2027. The area will start again.
Confederation, canton and municipality, as well as the ski association and mountain railway: everyone supports the new attempt.
City council has to decide
In Garmisch-Partenkirchen?
A clear statement is still missing four months later.
On the day of the defeat, Peter Fischer said: We should tackle it again in 2027.
The ski association was behind it.
Only the community - and it is decisive - has not yet made a decision.
But time is of the essence.
She urged from the start.
Now there is massive pressure.
The decision-makers originally wanted to see the documents for the Ski World Cup 2027 on October 1.
On Monday, however, the news came: The International Ski Federation FIS has brought the application deadline forward to May 1st.
Soon, very soon, the municipal councils will have to show their colors: Do you want Garmisch-Partenkirchen to run for another World Cup or do you not want one?
And who should take care of it as the head?
The name Peter Fischer is immediately mentioned.
But his commitment is by no means certain.
As head of the World Cup organizing committee and chairman of the Garmisch ski club, he is retiring this year.
He announced that in May 2020.
“And that's how it stays.” Regardless of this, he would take care of the application again.
For the place, he emphasizes.
But only if he hears a - unequivocal - positive sign from the local council.
"I will not beg for the matter." He asks for facts, a vote, wants to know "that we want that".
It is currently not available.
His commitment is currently failing due to a process that, in Fischer's eyes, would seriously damage the application: citizen participation.
Greens are calling for a poll
The Greens group around Dr.
Stephan Thiel had submitted a corresponding application at the end of the year: they wanted to involve the Garmisch-Partenkirchner.
He holds on to that.
Even if Fischer should then withdraw in the end.
“It's not about his person, but about the cause.” And the Greens are known to be skeptical about a World Cup.
But if the citizens are behind an application, Thiel is open to a debate on "how the whole thing can be made ecologically sensible".
Citizen participation with all honors - Fischer defines democracy differently in this case.
In his eyes, local councils as elected representatives of the people cannot relinquish responsibility.
He demands attitude.
Mayor Elisabeth Koch (CSU) made a very similar statement at the time: The elected councils should take a position.
They could then still have this checked by means of a citizen survey.
The wrong order for Thiel.
He wants to listen to the arguments openly, not with a stuck opinion.
"Then I wouldn't need the questioning." He by no means shirking his responsibility.
In forward-looking decisions - for Thiel this includes the World Ski Championships - "the citizens should have a say".
The future - a good keyword for fishermen.
In his opinion, this is exactly what can obstruct the debate with citizens.
Regardless of the outcome, the survey sends the signal: There is another argument in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
And the World Cup chances for the location decrease before you have even applied.
Especially since Crans-Montana is an equal competitor, also with the bonus “second attempt”.
Fischer predicts a decision by the FIS Council according to the motto: "Then we'll give the World Cup to the Swiss, they at least want them."
Fischer has no problem with World Cup opponents.
He emphasizes this several times.
But he wants to hear arguments.
“Right now there are more important things” doesn't count for him.
Applying is one of the most important things right now.
Because it would signal a spirit of optimism.
"Then everyone would have something to look forward to again." Just like back then, exactly ten years ago at the 2011 World Cup, when the whole place celebrated.
"In times of Corona we have no money for it" - Fischer does not accept the argument either.
For the 2011 World Cup, 27 million euros were invested in the infrastructure, so you only have to modify the ski area.
He considers the World Cup to be decisive for the location, especially with a view to finances - keyword Kongresshaus as an example.
As a media center, it plays an important role in the application.
With a World Cup, the community would receive grants for a renovation or new building - “without it, it gets nothing”.
Fischer has all of his arguments ready.
Only: does the local council agree with him?
The request of the Greens group is to be dealt with at the meeting on February 25th.
There is still no date for a fundamental decision for or against a candidacy.
On Tuesday morning, Mayor Koch received the information that the application period will end in less than three months.
Together with Fischer she agreed, it is said from the town hall, “to coordinate the further procedure shortly after the World Cup races”.